Sault Ste. Marie Area Trail Report – 12/11
SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 12/11 12/11/25 Thanks for sharing, Ken! ❄️❄️❄️ <> SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 12/10 12/10/25 Hello everyone! ‼ Important trail notice!!! ‼ You may have seen us talk about the construction on trails 472 & 480 in the Spile Dam area between Raco, Rudyard, and Kinross. While we do not have authority to close the trail, we are strongly advising that you avoid this area until further notice. The gate on the Raco end remains closed. We cannot groom from Tilson road on 472 all the way to just the other side of the Raco gate on 480. I wanted to share a visual on the map of where we are talking about. The green area in the rectangle is where we are asking you to avoid, for your own safety, and the safety of the contractors. I’ll pin this post so that it’s easy to reference. Thanks all! <> <> Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association Facebook Page <> WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Lake effect continues tonight, with the heaviest snow likely to focus into the Munising area overnight. Dangerous cold conditions are also expected across the eastern U.P. tonight into Thursday morning. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 1/27/26 www.sootrails.org SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 1/27/26 WEATHER UPDATE via Meteorologist Brad Sugden >> Additional snowfall Tuesday, Jan 27th! SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 1/27/26 This content isn't available right now WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Another quickly-moving Clipper will bring a round of widespread, light snow beginning this evening, followed by lingering lake effect snow across the NW wind snow belts for Tuesday. Totals of an inch or less are expected for most of the UP, but where lake effect snow occurs, up to 2-5in of snow is possible tonight through Tuesday evening. As winds pick up early Tuesday, patchy blowing snow may contribute to reduced visibility in the NW wind snow belts. Take care during your morning commute! #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaAnother quickly-moving Clipper will bring a round of widespread, light snow beginning this evening, followed by lingering lake effect snow across the NW wind snow belts for Tuesday. Totals of an inch or less are expected for most of the UP, but where lake effect snow occurs, up to 2-5in of snow is possible tonight through Tuesday evening. As winds pick up early Tuesday, patchy blowing snow may contribute to reduced visibility in the NW wind snow belts. Take care during your morning commute! WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> Lake effect snow continues today, stops, then resumes in intensity overnight into Tuesday, January 26th and 27th, 2026. WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> While it will remain cold through midweek we will get a reprieve from the bitter cold experienced over the last several days. Lake effect snow showers will be possible in the northwest wind snowbelts along with a period of widespread light snow tonight across the U.P. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaWhile it will remain cold through midweek we will get a reprieve from the bitter cold experienced over the last several days. Lake effect snow showers will be possible in the northwest wind snowbelts along with a period of widespread light snow tonight across the U.P. <> Latest Trail Reports – Quick Links <>
Groomer Ken got out to play off trail in the Raco area today on the forest service roads. He said there’s lots of fluff and to be mindful off trail for stumps and rocks as the base on the off trail roads and 2 tracks is still building. Love when our volunteers get to get out and play a bit!
There is MAJOR construction in there to build a brand new bridge, as well as build up the road (from sand/dirt to gravel). There is a ton of equipment in there.
Expected completion is sometime in January, weather depending. We will update as we learn more.Postings From Regional Pages On Facebook
Good evening everyone! Holding steady at 30” of snow in the Soo currently with lake effect snow showers ongoing.
We do still have one machine down, and our schedule has been adjusted to make sure we can still cover all areas.
Here’s what I know-
❄️ Trail 8- Soo to Raco- excellent
❄️ City Trails - part of 49, 449, 497, and the I500 trail- excellent (being groomed as I type this)
❄️ Trail 49- Soo to Kinross- good. All water holes are packed and panned. May have some drifts in open areas.
❄️ Trail 49 south of M80 and the 494 loop- excellent
❄️ Trail 472 to 480 to the Raco gate- good - Go slow by the new bridge on 480 as there is stone there, that will be snow covered in time.
❄️ Trail 480 from the Spile Dam turnaround to the Raco Powerline ( trail 8 ) - excellent
❄️ Raco Powerline- excellent
❄️ Trail 889 The Mission Hill Loop- excellent
Remember, we are on Groomer Tracker!
Ride safe everyone!
***to join or donate, please visit www.sootrails.org*** #soo
Things are so good around here that I actually have no significant updates to share LOL. A little snow here and there on top of an absolutely incredible base is making for the best riding in our area in years, honestly. Even with one machine still down, our operators have things in excellent shape!
We hope you’ll be able to be here next week for race week, and for the big race on Saturday, Feb 7th! We will have a booth in the brand new vendor pavilion, and we hope to see you there at the International 500 Snowmobile Race!! 🏁 ❄️🥶 #soo #soo0127 #snowphotos
Winds will gust 30-40mph at times blowing around new slow and fluffy snow already on the ground. Expect ground blizzards at times (wind driven, brief, white outs). #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsare #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyAdditional snowfall Tuesday, Jan 27th!
Winds will gust 30-40mph at times blowing around new slow and fluffy snow already on the ground. Expect ground blizzards at times (wind driven, brief, white outs).
Update!! 10:30 AM - The car is near the pavilion in the campground, close to the parking lot, and will be out shortly. Thank you to Merle’s Towing for your communication and helping her out!
🚨 Caution!! There is a car stuck on the trail behind Kewadin Casino. We are unsure of the exact location on the trail as of right now.
Merle’s Towing, who has always been so awesome to work with, is on the way, but please use caution.
Please be kind, it’s an elderly person who made a mistake. Just sharing for awareness. Thank you! #soo
Discussion
Our west winds kick up to the 30-40 mph range later tonight. Prior to that happening, a northwest wind will batter some lake effect areas with an additional 1-3" this afternoon, with pockets of 4"+ possible. As we move into Tuesday, a widespread blanket of 2-5", with pockets of 4-8" will overtake the Lake Michigan shoreline, eastern UP, and Keweenaw Peninsula. Temperature difference between water and air, plus adequate lift will fuel lake effect all the way through Wednesday morning. Additionally, we have a clipper moving through on Tuesday that will bring isolated pockets of 1-3" to the east side. Most locations should still be beneath an inch, however, too many variables are in play to not mention it.
Travel will be impacted along and west of US-131, with minor travel impacts all the way over to the US-127 corridor (I-75 north of Grayling). The clipper will be swinging through with the initial push of gusty winds after midnight tonight through 10 am Tuesday morning. Again, this will be for totals starting at noon today, and lasting through 8 am EST Wednesday, with most of the snow falling throughout the entire day Tuesday. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyLake effect snow continues today, stops, then resumes in intensity overnight into Tuesday, January 26th and 27th, 2026.
Discussion
Our west winds kick up to the 30-40 mph range later tonight. Prior to that happening, a northwest wind will batter some lake effect areas with an additional 1-3" this afternoon, with pockets of 4"+ possible. As we move into Tuesday, a widespread blanket of 2-5", with pockets of 4-8" will overtake the Lake Michigan shoreline, eastern UP, and Keweenaw Peninsula. Temperature difference between water and air, plus adequate lift will fuel lake effect all the way through Wednesday morning. Additionally, we have a clipper moving through on Tuesday that will bring isolated pockets of 1-3" to the east side. Most locations should still be beneath an inch, however, too many variables are in play to not mention it.
Travel will be impacted along and west of US-131, with minor travel impacts all the way over to the US-127 corridor (I-75 north of Grayling). The clipper will be swinging through with the initial push of gusty winds after midnight tonight through 10 am Tuesday morning. Again, this will be for totals starting at noon today, and lasting through 8 am EST Wednesday, with most of the snow falling throughout the entire day Tuesday.
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